Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/128

120 Benedick offers to accompany Claudio to the next willow, and asks him, "What fashion will you wear the garland of? About your neck like an usurer's chain? or under your arm like a lieutenant's scarf? You must wear it one way, for the prince hath got your Hero."

(To be continued.)

Notes from Weardale, Durham.

Frogs.—Boys were frightened from killing frogs by being told that they would be visited in bed by a form, that would cut a hole in their backs.

Toads.—These reptiles were looked upon as being so extremely vindictive that if their solitude was disturbed they would spit venom at the intruder.

Sty.—As in Ireland, touching with a wedding-ring was considered a good remedy.

Blackbirds were very unpopular with boys; a party of birds-nesters falling in with a "black-throstle's" nest would have no hesitation in taking it. If eggs were found, it was the custom to lay one upon the ground; a boy was then blindfolded, a stick put in his hand; and he had three "tries" to break it. Turns would be taken by the boys until all the eggs were broken. If newly-hatched birds, called "raw-gorlins," or unfeathered, were found, they were taken out of the nest, a piece of wood was placed upon a stone in "see-saw" fashion, with the young bird on one end, a heavy stick was then used to give a sharp blow on the other end, when the bird was jerked high in the air, generally falling quite dead. This was called "spang-hewing." The eggs or young of sparrows were served in the same manner. It was not customary to treat other birds so. .